Ellie Engleman is a professional dog walker with a rare talent -- she can read the minds of her clients, and have conversations with them. This ability came about when she adopted her Yorkiepoo, Rudy, from an animal shelter. Ellie and Rudy had made friends with Gary, a homeless man who lived in Central Park. On their next visit to the park, Ellie and Rudy discover Gary has been shot and killed. She notifies the police, and immediately becomes a prime suspect even though there is no evidence against her. This seems like déjà vu as it was just the year before when she found a dead man and met Detective Sam Ryder, the man who broke her heart (see HOUNDING THE PAVEMENT). Ellie thanks her lucky stars Sam isn't the arresting officer this time.

But, Sam knows the detectives working Ellie's case are too lazy to look deep for evidence or another suspect. He's got to help Ellie and hopefully she'll forgive him for not calling her after an unforgettable night together. He has to admit that seeing her again convinces him that he is really hung up on the lady. Ellie isn't as sweet and pliable as she was this time last year, so Sam has his work cut out for him -- helping to solve the murder, and getting Ellie to believe in him again. This may be harder than he thinks since the homeless man left a large fortune to Rudy, which gives Ellie a reason to kill!

What a clever, clever series. Rudy is a small dog with a big attitude, and he believes it his job to take care of his human, Ellie. The canine doesn't like Sam, and tries to talk Ellie out of having anything to do with the "defective dick". The dialogue and communication in this story is really funny. Judy McCoy has done an excellent job with her narrative and the story threads, sewing everything together nicely.